to stay in possession of the leader’s blue jersey despite Kittel’s crash blocking the Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider from competing in the sprint. Cavendish eventually came in 17th.

“The peloton split because of it,” Cavendish added. “Some gentlemen in the peloton gave me a hand to move up but I got to the front with 500 metres to go, before the sprint even started, and I was already on the limit.”

Kittel was fortunate to avoid serious injury in the high-speed crash, but the Giant Shimano rider showed his anger after jumping to his feet by angrily tossing his bike to the ground then collapsing back in a heap at the side of the road.